Moorhens and Whooper Swans Overwinter in St. Petersburg and Vuoksa
Two endangered birds — the moorhen and the whooper swan — have skipped their seasonal migration and are overwintering in St. Petersburg and on the Vuoksa River.
Jan 31, 2026 0
A whooper swan on the Vuoksa River, captured by photographer Anton Kubyshkin.
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Some migratory bird species are altering their traditional routes and staying to winter in Russian regions. This season, photographers have captured images of the moorhen and the whooper swan.
A moorhen in a St. Petersburg park, observed by biologist Pavel Glazkov.
Biologist Pavel Glazkov, author of the channel «A Pair for Every Creature», spotted an endangered moorhen on January 22 in an unfrozen water body in a St. Petersburg city park.
This species is listed in the city«s Red Book, leads a secretive lifestyle, and its discovery within the metropolis is considered very rare. Moorhens typically migrate to Western Europe or North Africa for the winter.
‘To my great surprise, not one but two moorhens have stayed here to winter. Most likely, it«s a male and female. So in spring, we can expect the appearance of endangered chicks!’ said Pavel Glazkov.
The moorhen is comparable in size to a pigeon and resembles a coot in appearance, but differs with a bright red leathery plaque on its forehead. On the coot, this mark is white.
On the Vuoksa River, whooper swans, also an endangered species, have been wintering for more than a year now. Young birds born in these areas are also staying. One of the swans was recently photographed by Anton Kubyshkin.
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